Sectional lighting fixture



May 9, 1957 y F. w. oGDl-:N 3,319,059

SECTIONAL LIGHTING FIXTURE T1 :i .1. //f) Filed Deo. 30, 1964 5Sheets-Sheet 1 May 9, 1967 F. w. OGDEN SECTIONAL LIGHTING FIXTURE 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 30, 1964 ffl# May 9, 1967 F. w. OGDENSECTIONAL LIGHTING FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 30, 1964 May 9,1967 F. w. OGDEN SECTIONAL LIGHTINGv FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.50, 1964 INVENTOR fk5-asma( M @Gaf/V May 9, 1967 l F, W, OGDEN .I3,319,059

`SECTIONAL LIGHTING FIXTURE` 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 'TWEE' l Filed Dec. 30,1964 United States Patent fiice 3,319,059 SECTIONAL LIGHTING FIXTUREFrederick W. Ogden, Cheshire, Conn., assigner to The Miller Company,Meriden, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 30, 1964, Ser.No. 422,218 2 Claims. (Cl. 24d- 9) This invention relates to lightingfixtures and more specifically to a novel and improved lighting fixturefor general area lighting and which may be arranged to conform withregular or irregular areas and which may be combined with opaque orlight transmitting ceiling elements to provide both direct and indirectceiling illumination.-

Fluorescent lighting fixtures and particularly those available forcommercial applications are generally designed either for installationon a ceiling or for incorporation as part of a ceiling. Such fixturesare of conventional configuration utilizing one or more lamps and can bemounted in end-to-end relationship to provide parallel strips oflighting. When utilizing fixtures adapted for installation in a hungceiling, it is customary to install the ceiling and, upon completi-on,install the lighting fixture in openings provided therein. In somecases, it is necessary to provide individual supports for the fixtureswithin the openings provided in the ceiling and this procedure isrelatively expensive and time-consuming.

This invention overcomes the difiiculties heretofore encountered inproviding recessed ceiling illumination and affords a novel and improvedlighting fixture and system wherein the improved fixture elements may beinstalled for either direct or indirect lighting and covering part orall of the ceiling and then ceiling elements may be supported betweenthe fixture elements to complete the ceiling.

Another object of the invention resides in a novel and improved lightingfixture formed of Ia plurality of individual elements that may beassembled in any desired configuration and afford either direct orindirect lighting.

Still another object of the invention resides in a novel and improvedlighting fixture formed of a plurality of spaced supporting elementseach arranged for the accommodation and support of elongatedilluminating means and associated reflecting elements extending radiallytherefrom and supported at their outer extremities by correspondingsupporting means.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of anovel and improved sectional lighting fixture that can be arranged inany desired configuration for space illumination and which may affordsupport for opaque or light transmitting ceiling members.

The above and other objects of the invention will become more apparentfrom the following description and accompanying drawings forming part ofthis application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a lighting fixture inaccordance with the invention and illustrating an arrangement ofelements to illuminate an irregular area.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken along the line 2-2thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken along the line 3-3thereof and illustrating one of the supports which, in the instantembodiment of the invention, is in the form of a hollow cube secured inspaced relationship With the ceiling.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of one ofthe supports shown in FIGURES 1 and 2and taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view taken in the di-rec- 3,319,059Patented May 9, 1967 tion of the arrows 5-'-5 of FIGURE 4 and withportions removed to illustrate one face of the support.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional View of FIGURE 4 taken along the line 6-6thereof.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in crosssection taken along theline 7-7 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view of the support or cube and one form of thecooperating light source supporting and reflecting elements.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation in partial section of a modified form oflight source supporting and diffusing elements.

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional View of FIGURE 9 taken along the line10-10 thereof.

FIGURE 1l is a side elevational View in partial section of still anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIGURE l2 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 11 taken along the line12-12 thereof.

FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional View of still another embodiment of asectional lighting fixture in accordance with the invention.

FIGURES 14 through 16 are cross-sectional views of FIGURE 13 taken alongthe lines 14-14, 15-15 and 16-16 thereof, respectively.

FIGURE 17 is a perspective View of a blank closure plate for use withthe embodiment of the invention shown `in FIGURES 13 through 16.

The lighting fixture in accordance with the invention constitutes a newand improved arrangement of elements for providing general lighting inregular or irregular areas. The light sources may be supported in -anydesired `configuration for either direct or indirect lighting, and,

if desired, the lighting fixture may constitute the supporting structurefor a false ceiling of opaque or light transmitting material. These endsare attained through a new and improved concept in lighting fixtureswherein the lighting fixture is formed of a plurality of basic elementswhich can be arranged in :any desired configuration to suit the lightingneeds of a particular room or other area. By reason of the versatilityof the lighting fixture in accordance with the invention and the factthat certain of the basic elements of the lighting fixture are common tothe various forms, the manufacturing and installation costs can bematerially reduced and the mode of lighting can be modified quickly andeasily and without disturbing the basic installation or electric wiring.For instance, if Ia lighting system in accordance with the invention isarranged for direct downward illumination, it can easily be changed toprovide indirect lighting or any combination of direct and indirectlighting by merely substituting different light controlling elements.This will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 which illustrates the basic concept of theinvention, it will be observed that the lighting fixture in accordancewith the invention cornprises a plurality of corner housings or supports10 which may be in the form of a box or cube and sockets 11 for supportof Ilamps 12 therebetween. The corner housings 10 are identical and eachis secured to the ceiling C by an apppropriate stem 13, one or more .ofwhich may accommodate electric wiring for lighting the lamps 12.

Each of the housings is interconnected by light controlling elementssuch as the elements 14, which, in the instant embodiment of theinvention, provide for direct down lighting. These elements mechanicallycouple the housings one to the other and .also provide wireways for theelectrical circuits. Ballasts or other suitable devices necessary forilluminating the fluorescent tubes 12 may be rnounted within selectedhousings or wireways as may be desired. The light controlling elements14 as will be scussed may also support light transmitting or opaque:iling elements. Since the housings are arranged to :commodate differenttypes of light controlling elements, te type of lighting can be modiedlin any given installaon by merely changing the light controllingelements 14 ithout disturbing the electric wiring or the corner houslgs10.

The invention with one form of light control means is lown in detail inFIGURES 3 through 8. In this form f the invention, the corner housing1t) is in the nature f a tubular member having four walls 15 with each'all having upper and lower flanges 16 and 17 which are elatively narrowand provide means for attachment of an pper cover 18 and a lower cover19. Each of the walls 5 has four vertically disposed corner slots 26, anenirged central opening 21 adjoining the upper edge of the /all and apair of slots 22 spaced from the sides of the ipening 21.

The bottom cover 19 may take any desired form as its urpose is to merelyclose the bottom opening 23 of the Lousing 10. For this purpose, thecover 19 is provided vith tabs 24 which may be bent over the inwardlyexending lower anges 17 to secure the bottom in place. .Phe upperopening 25 has a diagonal strap 26 welded or )therwise secured to theupper ilanges 16 and is profided with a central threaded opening 27 tothreadably 'eceive the lower end of the stem 13. A lock nut 28 as villbe observed in FIGURE 3 may be used to lock the :tern 13 in place andprevent rotation of the housing 10 elative to the stem. The upper cover18 has an opening 9 slidably receiving the stem 13 and a pair of corner)penings 30 for attachment of the cover to the housing ny means ofscrews 31.

The wireway is formed of two elements, namely, an ,nverted U-shapedchannel 32 and a V-shaped reflector 33. The channel 32 has a widthsubstantially corresponding to the distance lbetween the slots 22 in thewalls 15 and the end of the channel is provided with latching tabs 34which engage the slots 22 and thereby interlock it with the housings 10.Thus, the channel 32 holds adjoining housings in xed relationship one tothe other and at the same time provides means for accommodating 'wiringwhich may be fed through the openings 21. The sockets 1v1 in the instantembodiment of the invention are secured to the channels 32 in anysuitable manner, it being merely necessary that the sockets are somewhatnarrower than the opening 21 so that at least a portion of the opening21 is .available to accommodate electrical wiring. The V-shapedreflector 33 completes the wiring channel and is supported by thechannel 32. For this purpose, the channel 32 is provided with a seriesof vslots 35 on each side thereof and the V-shaped reflector is providedwith cooperating tabs 36. By compressing the V- shaped reflector 33, itmay be inserted within the channel and then upon relaxing the pressureon the channel 33 with the tabs 36 in alignment with the openings 35 thetabs will engage the openings and secure theV-shaped reiiecto'r 33 inposition. The remainder of the light oontrolling means in the instantembodiment of the invention comprises a pair of parallel plates 37 and33. Each of these plates has a length identical to the channels 32 and33 and is provided with locking tabs 39 substantially identical to thelocking tabs 34 lon the channel 32. The tabs 39 are placed in engagementwith the slots 2@ to complete the structure. An assembled view of theelements is shown in FIGURE 6, and it Iwill be observed that the fixtureprovides a small degree of uplighting with the major portion of thelight being directed downwardly. As is evident from FIGURE 1, two ormore sides of each housing may be utilized. The unused sides wouldpreferably be closed by a plate such as the plate |19, and, for thispurpose, the tabs 24 of the plate 19 are located to engage the slots inthe unused side 15 and thereby close the openings therein.

.A modied form of the invention is shown in FIG- URES 9 and 10. In thisform of the invention, the side plates 37 and 38 are replaced by modiedplates 40 and 41, each having inwardly extending upper and lower flanges42. The upper flanges reduce the percentage of upwardly illumination andthe lower flanges hold a suitable grid 43 which extends throughout theentire length of the side plates 40 and 41.

FIGURES 11 and 12 illustrate a still further modification of theinvention wherein means are provided for supporting a grid or othertranslucent or light transmitting element. In this embodiment of theinvention, the wireway which is formed of the channels 32 and 33 remainsin place and merely the side plates such as 37 and 38 or 40 and 41 areremoved and replaced by a horizontal plate 44. This plate includesinterlocking tabs 45 for engagement of the lower openings 2). The sideedges of the plate 44 have downwardly and outwardly L-shaped flanges 46for receiving panels 47 to close the ceiling areas between the housings10. These panels may be in the form of grids or other translucent orlight transmitting material. If desired, intervening bracing elementsmay join intermediate portions of parallel plates 44 to divide each `ofthe areas into small squares or rectangles as may be desired.

In the embodiment of the invention previously described, the ballast orother means required for operation of the fluorescent lamps was intendedto be installed within the housings 10 or within the wireways. Ifdesired, conventional elongated ballasts may be mounted in enlargedtubular stems iior supporting the housings 10 from the ceiling. SuitableVentilating means would of course be provided where necessary. When theballast is intended to be incorporated within a tubular stem, somewhatshallower housings may be utilized, and this moditied structure is shownin FIGURES 13 through 16.

FIGURE 13 illustrates the utilization of an enlarged stem 13' having aballast 48 housed within the stem. The top of the stem 13 may be securedto a recessed ceiling plate 49 of any suitable type. In the instantembodiment of the invention, the plate 49 has an opening 50 therein andfurther includes openings surrounding the central opening 51B toaccommodate tabs 51 extending upwardly from the tubular stem 13. Thesetabs may be bent outwardly or may be twisted as desired to secure thestern in the ceiling plate 49. The bottom of the stem 13 is providedwith a dat plate 52 having a central opening 53 therein. The plate 52 isfastened to the stem by means of tabs 54 in the same manner as describedin connection with the attachment of the upper plate 49. Each housing1t? is secured to its associated plate 52 by a plurality of screws 55.

The housing 10 in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 10through 16 is intended for supporting light `controlling elements whichdirect -all of the light upwardly and at the same time provide for thesupport of translucent or light transmitting ceiling elements. For thispurpose, each side wall 56 of each housing 10 is provided with a smallupper opening 57 and an enlarged lower opening 58. Upper slots 59 areprovi-ded in each wall and spaced from the sides of the openings 57. Apair of lower slots 60 are spaced from the edges of the bottom opening58. The sockets 61 for the fluorescent lamps 62 have base portions 61which extend through the openings 57 in the side walls 56 and arefastened to the upper anges 63 of the side walls 56. The adjoininghousings 11i are connected -by an elongated upwardly facing channel 64having a horizontal bottom 65 and upwardly extending side walls 66. Theside walls 66 have latching tabs 67 and 68 for engaging the slots 59 and66 respectively. The upper portions of the side walls 66 are oset asindicated at 69 to accommodate ceiling supporting elements to bedescribed. A cylindrical reiiector 719 having a diameter substantiallyequal to the distance between the oset wall portions 69 of the channel64 is disposed within the channel as illustrated in FIGURE 15 and formsla wireway 71 for accommodation of the electric wiring. The reflectorand channel are held in position by supporting brackets generallydenoted by the numeral 72. Each bracket 72 has an L-shaped crossse'ctionwith the vertical leg 73 lying flat against the outer face of theassociated offset portion 69 of the housing 64. The bottom leg 74 of thesupport 72 rests on the shoulder formed by the offset portion 69 andextends outwardly to a point substantially coincident with the edge ofthe housing The upper end of the leg 73 is bent upon itself -to form ahook-like portion 75 which overlies the top edges of the housing walls66 and the reector 70, thereby holding them in rm engagement one withthe other. The shoulder formed by the leg 74 of the bracket 72 providessupport for intervening ceiling elements 76 which may be in the form ofan open grid 0r of other translucent or transparent material.

As in the case of the previous embodiment of the invention, blank panelsare provided for the sides of the housings 10 which are not utilized ina specific lighting arrangement. One such panel is shown in FIGURE 17and denoted by the numeral 77. This panel has tabs 78 and 79 forengagement with the openings 59 and 60 respectively in a side wall 56.The bottom of each -box is closed by a blank panel 80 which is similarto the panel 19 shown and described in connection with the previousembodiment of the invention.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the novel andimproved lighting fixture provides an exceedingly high degree ofversatility yand enables the attainment of a wide variety of lightingeffects. This is attained through the utilization of certain basic xtureelements, namely, corner housings or units which are individually`suspended from a ceiling at predetermined intervals and may accommodateany type of light directing means therebetween. With this arrangement,the cost of custom lighting installations is materially reduced, sincecertain basic elements are common to all forms of the invention.

Furthermore, the type of lighting can be modied b merely interchanginglight directing elements. It is als to be understood that, while ashallow corner housin 10' is shown in FIGURE 13 and the deeper housings1 are shown in the preceding figures, they may be intel changed ormodified as may be desired.

While only certain embodiments of the invention hav been illustrated anddescribed, it is apparent that altera tions, modifications and changesmay be made withou departing from the true scope and spirit thereof asdefine by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting xture having a rectangular configuratioi comprising arelatively small rectangular box disposed a each corner of said fixtureand having supporting mean for securing each box to a supportingsurface, light con trolling means releasably carried by :and betweensai( boxes and elongated light sources disposed within sait lightcontrolling means, said light controlling means com prising an elongatedupwardly facing channel, a generallf cylindrical concave reflectordisposed within said channe and elongated means enga-ging the elongatededges 0 said channel and reilector to secure them one to the other 2. Alighting xture according to claim 1 wherein sai( elongated means eachinclude an outwardly extending flange for the support of lighttransmitting ceiling ele ments.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,301,228 11/1942 Pollack et al 240-9 )4 2,873,838 2/1959 Zitorner 240-78 )i2,932,728 4/1960 Thomas 240-5 2,951,147 8/ 1960 Gilbert 240-5 NORTONANSHER, Primary Examiner. R. M. SHEER, Examiner.

1. A LIGHTING FIXTURE HAVING A RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION COMPRISING ARELATIVELY SMALL RECTANGULAR BOX DISPOSED AT EACH CORNER OF SAID FIXTUREAND HAVING SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SECURING EACH BOX TO A SUPPORTINGSURFACE, LIGHT CONTROLLING MEANS RELEASABLY CARRIED BY AND BETWEEN SAIDBOXES AND ELONGATED LIGHT SOURCES DISPOSED WITHIN SAID LIGHT CONTROLLINGMEANS, SAID LIGHT CONTROLLING MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED UPWARDLYFACING CHANNEL, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL CONCAVE REFLECTOR DISPOSEDWITHIN SAID CHANNEL AND ELONGATED MEANS ENGAGING THE ELONGATED EDGES OFSAID CHANNEL AND REFLECTOR TO SECURE THEM ONE TO THE OTHER.